Believe it or not it’s true. They actually use their rear ends as defense and as a weapon. When escaping a predator such as a dingo, they’ll dig a hole or retreat into a burrow. Their rear end is so tough that the predator will have a very tough time getting hold of them. And if a predator tries to climb over them in a burrow, the wombat will literally crush them against the roof of the burrow.

That’s probably a good idea. While young wombats can be cute and cuddly, adults are quite territorial and can be aggressive and even dangerous. They can outrun a human, and have sharp claws and big teeth.